Magic Line with Carlo Traversi

At the end of February 2022, Black Diamond Athlete Carlo Traversi made the fourth ascent of the legendary Magic Line (5.14c), a mythical Ron Kauk testpiece in Yosemite Valley. First climbed in 1996, the line sat unrepeated for 22 years before seeing its second and third ascents in 2018 and 2019. Watch Carlo rack up and place all his gear on lead in this film.

Flashback: When two men climbed El Capitan in 1970

In this 1970 CBS Evening News report, climbers Dean Caldwell and Warren Harding make history as the first to climb El Capitan s Wall of Early Morning Light. Now known as Dawn Wall, it s the same cliff face that Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell free-climbed in an equally historic feat. While both had their challenges, the 1970 climb would prove to be more controversial thanks to a spat between the climbers and the National Park Service.

Adam Ondra 9a first ascent

Black Diamond athlete Adam Ondra made the first ascent of Chaxi Raxi, a massive 9b line at Oliana, Spain in late April. This is likely one of the hardest sport climb in the world. We had Bernardo Gimenez on the scene to document Adam’s efforts and he was fortunate enough to be there for the redpoint. Below is the outstanding video Bernardo edited together, as well as brief recap from Adam. Stunning. Impressive. Inspiring. Absolutely bad ass. Congratulations, Adam.